Both sides have defended well most the season, and that continued. It contributed to the game seeming "boring" to some, but I enjoyed it, and I like defensive games. Dragons bombed some chances though, and were really the best team all night. The Knights are struggling in attack but Gidley out and Mullen on one leg most the night didn't help.
The "negative" kicking dead was lauded as a positive when teams were "cleverly" doing it to deny Slater open space a few years ago. I don't see it as a big deal. A 20 metre restart is pretty good if you are making good metres: you should easily get to an attacking kick (as opposed to a kick for territory) and if the opposition wishes to give you that chance all the time that is their choice. Keeping kicks near the in goal has been and will remain the most sensible option in most circumstances.
I thought Prior, who seems despised by most, played well as a centre, and Hornby, who is "over rated" in the views of some, was the most influential half in the game. Soward probably needs to step up a bit, but the new kid for Newcastle played well enough for a beginner.
